Hackney shooting: Neighbours claim woman died on her doorstep protecting someone

Neighbours have described the 42-year-old woman pronounced dead at the scene after a fatal shooting in Hackney as 'lovely' and said she was trying to protect someone

The victim of the fatal shooting in Hackney 'died on her doorstep' protecting someone from attackers, a neighbour has said.

A woman was killed and two others rushed to hospital after the incident in Hackneym London last night, with police since launching a murder probe into the firearms incident. Emergency services were scrambled to the area at around 6.30pm. A 42-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were taken to hospital.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said that they are in the process of informing the woman's next of kin, who will be supported by specialist family liaison officers. On Wednesday morning, a neighbour said that the woman was protecting somebody at the time of the incident.

They added: “She was very nice lady very. We are devastated. She was trying to protect someone that what we heard. She was not the target.” Another told the Evening Standard that the 42-year-old woman was "lovely", adding that she was "a great mother who would do anything for anyone". The local said: "If you needed her she was there. She was so down to earth. Last time I knew she was working in the childcare industry.”

Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, from the local policing team in Hackney, said in a statement: "This shocking incident has resulted in the death of a young woman and my thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time.

"My thoughts are also with the two people who have been taken to hospital. We are still in the early stages of our investigation and a team of specialist detectives are working to establish what has happened. Officers will remain at the scene overnight and will be in the area over the coming days.

"I do not underestimate the impact this incident will have on people in Hackney and I understand the community will want answers about what has happened this evening. We will share further information as our investigation progresses.

"Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and we will do all we can to bring whoever is responsible for this despicable crime to justice." There have been no arrests. Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or has information about what happened, is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 5811/05Dec.

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